Welcome To The Institute

Thanks to disposable cameras, digitalization, and the Internet, a social phenomenon is emerging in countless communities and countries that we think deserves to be celebrated, replicated, studied, and identified. It includes the use of still photography, full motion photography, and sound. But as a collective movement, we call it Photographic Empowerment.

The Institute for Photographic Empowerment (IPE) combines the resources, energies and contacts of two important institutions: Venice Arts and the USC Annenberg School for Communication. Venice Arts has compiled a remarkable record in the United States and the world – from helping the homeless to document their lives to giving voice to women in Africa who are living with HIV/AIDS.

At USC Annenberg, scholars are studying the impact of these images on communities and individuals. We also have an intense interest in the ability of still and full motion photography to contribute to pubic diplomacy and to make it possible for people to gain leadership roles in their own communities. But while we have worked together to launch this Institute, we are looking forward to working with other groups and individuals around the world who are pioneering this field in even better and more innovative ways.

The Institute will serve as a virtual meeting place for groups and individuals who share our interest in learning from one another, creating best practices, exploring ethical and legal issues, and learning from the research of social scientists. We hope that this website will help to start that process and we invite all who are interested to come, comment, and collaborate.

Geoffrey Cowan
University Professor and Director,
USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership